Michael Arace | Growing pains will help Blue Jackets in long run

Tuesday

Feb 14, 2017 at 8:26 PMFeb 14, 2017 at 8:26 PM

Goodness, gracious, the Blue Jackets are no longer winning every game. Their 16-game streak came to an end Jan. 5. Since, they have posted a record of 8-10-1 with a minus-6 goal differential. It is a curious twist, yes, but is far from a death knell.

Although it is true that this is the time of the season when vultures tend to darken the skies over Nationwide Arena, they are not circling this year. Look at the standings. Trust your eyes. Enjoy the stretch.

Elliotte Friedman, a well-respected hockey journalist, and Nick Kypreos, who is reputedly well-sourced, caused a stir in Columbus when they chatted about a recent “closed-door meeting” between Jackets coach John Tortorella and his players. Friedman and Kypreos talked about it during a segment of "Hockey Night in Canada" last weekend.

Friedman: “There was a meeting there the other day, and I think there were just some requests and I think publicly and privately they’ve just asked (Tortorella) to be a little easier.”

Kypreos: “The feeling among the players is maybe some of that old style of Tortorella crept in on the bench. … Usually, it’s the coach giving it to the players, but I think in this instance (the players) were looking for Tortorella to go back and find a few more positive things (to highlight) the last few games.”

Our Tom Reed was told by captain Nick Foligno that the Jackets have meetings all the time and the Friedman-Kypreos confab was blown out of proportion. Reed reported the meeting came Thursday after the Jackets’ 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Nationwide Arena. Foligno said the meeting in question was not “called,” it was “planned.”

Here’s the thing about that Vancouver game: It is exceedingly difficult to find a positive video clip unless you are a Canucks fan. That game was a crowd-killing stink bomb for the home team. I don’t worry about Totorella losing his mind after that loss. I worry about him taking another game off because of a sick dog.

Is there a kernel of truth in the Friedman-Kypreos back-and-forth? Probably. Does it amount to a big deal? Probably not. Is it an indication that the wheels are falling off, and that the Jackets will be scratching for the second wild-card playoff spot in the East? Nah.

The Jackets are not built, and they are not ready, to win the big one right now. They still seek a reliable, backup goaltender and they probably could use another defenseman. They would be formidable with a bona fide, fully realized No. 1 center. This is not a knock on Alexander Wennberg, but a statement on the lack of game-breaking, offensive talent. You know, the kind they could have used Monday against the Rangers.

If the Jackets were in a different strata, they might look into acquiring St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk or Colorado center Matt Duchene — both of whom are being shopped — before the March 1 trade deadline. There is little indication the Jackets are interested, and that is a good thing. Shattenkirk has specific ideas of where he wants to sign. As for Duchene, he will be the subject of a bidding war that is better avoided. It’s probably going to take a first-round draft pick, a top prospect and a young defenseman to get him. Bah.

The Jackets have a nice, young team. They can let the Rangers and Penguins sacrifice their futures on deadline deals. The Jackets should stay pat, get through their middling midseason, see how they come out on the other side and trot their youths through a first-round playoff experience. Presently, patience is their best path.